WAMC: Patrick's Budget Cuts Cultural Funding

In response to Governor Patrick’s $1.5 million budget cut for the Massachusetts Cultural Council, on January 24, 2014, WAMC’s Jim Levulis quoted MASSCreative senior campaign organizer, Tracie Konopinski. In her interview Tracie Konopinski expressed her concern for how the arts community will continue to be hindered if the budget keeps declining:

“His proposal, the $9.6 (million), doesn’t adequately provide for what the creative community needs," said Konopinski. According to MassCreative, over the past 25 years, the state’s funding for the creative economy has declined nearly 60 percent."

Community Impact

The Drama Studio is one of a handful of youth theatres in the United States that offers quality, range, and depth in its acting training programs. For Springfield-area youth, the Studio's conservatory program offers an unusual opportunity for training that prepares its graduates (all of whom are college bound) to...